Moratorium On Commercial Cannabis Extended In Napa County

NAPA COUNTY, CA – The Napa County Board of Supervisors this morning unanimously approved an extension of a temporary moratorium on commercial cannabis operations in the unincorporated areas of the county until December 2019.

The temporary moratorium was set to expire this Dec. 4, but was extended to that date next year.

Napa County currently prohibits indoor and outdoor commercial cultivation, but the Board of Supervisors is not unanimous on the issue, said David Morrison, county Director of Planning, Building and Environmental Services.

Morrison said the issue of commercial cultivation could be raised again by the board before the moratorium expires in December 2019.

Napa County is known for its wine industry, and there are concerns about water and pesticides used in cannabis cultivation could detract from that sound economic base, Morrison said.

"We know what we do well," he said.

This past January, the state Bureau of Cannabis Control that oversees commercial cannabis licensing in California began issuing temporary licenses for cannabis businesses to operate legally.

In June, the Bureau readopted emergency regulations for commercial cannabis businesses, and in July it published draft permanent regulations that would replace regulations currently in place.

The Bureau recently held its last public meeting on the permanent regulations and is expected to
finally adopt permanent regulations soon.

"Until final state regulations are officially adopted and enforceable and the County has established a framework for integrating local and state regulations of commercial cannabis activity, commercial cannabis activity will be insufficiently regulated and poses a current and immediate
threat to the public health, safety and welfare," Napa County's temporary moratorium ordinance states.

The ordinance cites concerns about increased criminal activity, detrimental effects on public health, increased cannabis use by adolescents in the county and adverse environmental impacts.

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